Relay



June 15, 1943. F. .1. MARCO .E1-A1. 2,321,834

` RELAY Filedz sept: 28, 1940 F El 1.9

Patented June 15, 1943 RELAY Frederick J. Marco, Carl G. Anderson, and Folke A. Brandstrom,

Chicago,

Ill., assignors to Comar Electric Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September Z8, 1940, Serial No. 358,790

1 claim.

This invention relates to electrical equipment in the nature of a relay, one of the principal objects being the provision of a device of this class which is simple and rugged in construction and characterized by an increased elciency in both electrical and mechanical operation.

One of the specific objects is the provision of an improved non-magnetic mounting for the armature by means of which the armature may be caused to release quickly when the coil is deenergized. t

Another object is the provision of an improved non-magnetic stop for the armature which constitutes a part of the non-magnetic armature mounting.

A further and importantpbject is the provision of a non-magnetic fulcrum or rocking seat for the armature and means on the armature and seat providing an interlocking connection -between these parts by means of which the armature is mounted for free movement but-is prevented from excessive wobbiing or disengagement from its seat. n

Still another object is the provision of a nonmagnetic seat or fulcrum for the armature which is attached removably by means of a single screw by means of .which the armature may be removed without disturbing the relay switches.

Another highly important object is the provision of improved mounting means for the entire relay, said means including the provision of a recessed part on the field piece or frame, and into which the lower part of the core projects for engagement with a retaining collar or nut, said collar or nut being entirely disposed Within said recessed part so that the latter can lie flushed on a mounting surface, the portion of the core Which is engaged in said recess and nut being tapped to receive a mounting screw by means of which the relay is disposed in operative position.

Still another object is the provision 'of an improved phase-splitting or pole-shading ring which is characterized by the provision of opposite wings or projections adapted to prevent the header-washer from coming off the pole piece or core.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of construction as well as the cooperative'relationship of the component parts of the illustrative embodiment described hereafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved relay with portions shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the relay with portions of the switch spring shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a. horizontal section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing' the phase-splitting ring in plan.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail along lines 4 4 of Fig. l showing the accommodation' washer.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view oi the armature and insulated pusher member.

By Way of general introduction it is stated that relays of the type hereinafter described include a movable magnetically attractable member known as the armature, together with a frame or field piece of magnetic material upon which the armature is movably or rockably seated. The movable element or armature usually operates some kind of a switch also forming part of the relay, and the device is completed by the provision of a winding through which an electric current is passed to magnetize a core member therein and set up a magnetic circuit through the frame or eld piece and the armature and cause the armature to be attracted from a normal position toward the core.

The armature is usually held in its normal position by a spring, and the electric currentl which must magnetize the armature to attract it must overcome the resistance of this spring as well as the resistance resulting from the operation of said switch. y

These relays must operate quickly and positively both in releasing and in pulling up. and large' numbers of these relays must be available to operate on low voltages or with a fairly low magnetizing current. In view of these facts, it will be apparent that the spring tension for the armature spring, as well as the resistance of the associated switch means, must be kept low'if the armature is to do its work satisfactorily.

' A peculiarity of the magnetic circuit set up in the relay is the marked tendency of the magnetic force to continue in effect a short time after energizng current has been shut off. in order to overcome this sticking tendency the armature springs are commonly made relatively strong; but it will be apparent that there is a limit to the Vapplication of this expediency where the rclay must operate on a low current. It therefore becomes necessary to provide a means for quickly causing the magnetic force to become dissipated. One of the known methods for accomplishing this is by inserting a non-magnetic material in the magnetic circuit, for example, at

a. point between the connection oi the armature with the field piece or frame.

According to the present invention, such a break in the magnetic circuit is achieved by providing a non-magnetic seat o1 fulcrum on the eld piece or frame and upon which the armature is mounted for rbcking movement.

Referring toFig. 1 the improved relay includes the frame or field piece generally indicated at I0, there being a vertical section II and a lower horizontal foot section I2 by means of which the relay is mounted on a supporting rack or surface. At the upper end of the field piece is an opposite horizontal projection or switch mounting shelf I3. The frame or field piece II-I2-I3 is constructed of a magnetic material such as iron.

Mounted upon the shelf I3 is a simple variety of ,spring leaf switch including a plurality of switch blades I4--I5-I6, secured between a plurality of insulating blocks I'I held in assembled relation by screws I 8 engaged in the shelf. As seen i'n Fig. 4 particularly, the switch assembly is prevented from rattling loose by the provision of an arcuate accommodation washer I9. This washer is a piece of spring metal which has been bent into arcuate shape along its length so that its outer edges 20 bear against the upper surface of the topmost one of the insulating blocks I1, while leaving a space 2l around the screw I8 to accommodate the upper protruding end of an insulating sleeve 22. In this way, the screws I8 maybe turned up tightly notwithstanding the accidental protrusion of the upperend portions of the sleeve 22.

The improved armature 23 is shown in perspective in Fig. 5, and as seen also in Fig. 1, includes a pusher 24 of insulating material pro; vided with a notch 25 which fits around the notched part 2B adjoining a Vertical upset lug 21 at the front of the armature, theA pusher being rigidly secured to lug 21 by means of a rivet 28.

The pusher 24 is provided with a' horizontal slot 24a into which the end portion I5a of certain of the switch blades project to be flexed by movement of the armature from its normal position, shown in Fig. 1, when the coil 29 is energized.

Armature 23 is mounted at its right-hand end on a non-magnetic fulcrum or seat 30. The member 30 is preferably constructed of brass or some other suitable non-magnetic metal, and

is provided with opposite punches 3| fitting into holes or recesses 32 in the underlying' portion of the vertical leg II of the field piece, upon which the seat or fulcrum is' removably secured by means of a single screw 33.

The upper edge of the brass seat or fulcrum is slotted as at 34 to accommodate the opposite side wings 36, which are adjacent the tail 31 of the armature. The tail 31 projects through lthe central slot'35 in the seat or fulcrum and connects with the'upper hooked end 38 of the normal spring 39..

The portions 30a of the brass seat or fulcrum (resulting from the formation of slots 34, 35) project upwardly into the slots 36a made in forming the side wings 36 on the armature, and in this manner may be said to interlock with the armature, there being a suicient clearance between the projections 30a and the wing slots 36a to permit the armature to rock in freefvertical movement on its seat.

It should be observed that in the. mounting of the seat or fulcrum 30 on the vertical leg II of the field piece (Fig. 1), there has been provided a clearance 40 between the cut-away portions 4I on the vertical leg II by means of which the armature is passed into engagement with seat 30. This clearance 40 is as slight as possible to prevent any chance of actual contact between the armature and the ileld piece while at the same time minimizing the clearance to reduce the reluctance of the magnetic circuit.

In order vto secure this armature in its seat, there is provided a retaining member or keeper 45, also constructed of a non-magnetic material such as brass and secured to the vertical leg II as by rivets 45. The lower edge portion of this keeper is disposed closely opposite the upper edge portion of the projections 30a on the seat whereby vdisplacement of the armature from the latter is eiectively prevented.

A feature of the foregoing keeper structure is the provision of a stop arm projection 41 which is bent y over from the part 45 and projects through a slot 48 in the ield piece II with an offset stop portion 49 disposed above the armature to limit the upward movement of the latter under influence of the spring 39.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision of improved mounting means forthe` coil 29 and `for the relay as an entirety. yAs seen in Fig. 1 the horizontal foot portion I2 of the frame or field piece is o'set as at I2a to. provide a recess I2b into which projects the lower end portion 5010i.' the pole piece or core of the winding 29. The portion 50 is 35 threaded exteriorly and also tapped to receive,

respectively, an attaching nut 5I which fits snugly into the recess I2b and holds the magnet or winding 29 on the foot, and a mounting screw 52 threaded into the core through a mounting member 53 whereby the entire relay unit is secured in operative position. A positioning lug I2c is provided at the end of the foot I2 to engage in a recess in the mounting member 53 and prevent the relay from rotating or working loose on its mounting. Heretofore the core has been staked or peened onto the frame, a method which caused frequent injury to the winding, and which prevents removal and substitution of A coils.

Another feature of the invention is illustrated ink Fig. 3 wherein the shading piece or phasesplitter is shown as a substantially circular member of copper or.other highly conductive non-magnetic material with a central opening across which projects a bar or web 6 I.

The upper end of the core 50 of the magnet is cross-slotted as at 62 leaving two pole. faces Il to project through the disc IIIA on opposite sides of the cross-bar or web 6I. The provision oi' such shading rings, is not new, its purpose being to prevent complete collapse of 'the magnetic field during current changes on an alternating current circuit, whereby to eliminate objectionable humming and chatter of the armature. However, the new feature of this shading ring resides in the provision of opposite wings 64 projecting toward each other somewhat beyond the cross web 6I. 'Ihese wings G4 preventv the top washer or header 65 from working loose, especially when the wire is wound onto the spool or core in making the magnet.

n is to -be understood that in order for the l .tially increasing the relative cost of production of such a device. The novel combination stop and keeper 45-4l, `and the co-,operating -seat or fuibrum 30 provides an emcient Vand rugged means for removably mounting the armature for maximum efficiency as regards the magnetic circuit, while at the same time providing a sumcient break in said circuit to assure positive release of the armature from operated condition when the current is interrupted; and further for removing the'armature without disturbing the relay switches or switchstacks. The wing projections on the shading slug permit the wire to be wound tightly on the core without danger of loosening the top header washer 65, and the recessed mounting of the lower end of the core securely iixes the coil on the frame.

The preferred embodiment of the invention set forth herein has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, it being understood that the objects of the invention may be accomplished by other forms and arrangements of the specific means set forth, so that the invention is not to tion, or function except as may be provided-here-- inafter in the appended claim.

We claim:

In a relay of the type having an upright frame member with an armature projecting horizontally therefrom and a switchstack supported on a part of said frame member in approximate parallelism with said armature, improvements comprising: a non-magnetic fulcrum piece removably attached to said frame member beneath said armature with said armature rocking entirely on the fulcrum piece and having interfitting engagement with the latter; a non-magnetic stop and keeper attached to said frame member separately from, and. beneath, said switchstack with keeper' portions closely overlying said armature and in alignment with said ment, said fulcrum piece being removable as aforesaid to provide for removal of the armature without disturbance of the Yswitchstack in its mounted condition on the frame member, as

` aforesaid. 

